Mr. Speaker, I do have information that is new and relevant to this specific issue.
The member for Yorkton—Melville made references to the rules and practices of this House being changed without input of members of this House. This is a very serious charge.
I appreciate that the administration of the House has authority to make certain decisions and changes on behalf of members. However, if we consider that the legislative services offered to members are an established and vital practice of this House, then it is clear that the administration went beyond the powers conferred on it by the House when it made changes to that practice.
Beauchesne's sixth edition, citation 2 states:
Procedure in the Canadian House of Commons is derived from many sources—the Constitution Act—statute, written rules and tradition.
These traditions are part of what formulate our rules and practices. Until the administration receives new direction from this House it cannot change those practices. Any attempt to do so is an infringement on the privileges of the members of this House.
On June 20, 1994 and November 7, 1996 the Speaker ruled on a matter relating to committees:
While it is a tradition of this House that committees are masters of their own proceedings, they cannot establish procedures which go beyond the powers conferred upon them by the House.
Considering that no other body except this House can change its rules or proceed beyond its established practices, the changes brought to your attention by the member for Yorkton—Melville are a breach of our traditions and therefore our privileges. I refer you to Joseph Maingot's Parliamentary Privilege in Canada , page 192:
Each House also claims the right to punish actions which are offences against its authority or dignity, such as disobedience to its legitimate commands—
Making changes to the rules of the House without its authority is a form of disobedience to its legitimate command. This is a very serious matter and I believe we should resolve it immediately. To that end, Mr. Speaker, I believe that the information my hon. colleague has brought up is in further addition to the previous questions of privilege brought up on the matter of legislative counsel in this House.